Aho, Esko

Esko Aho

Prime Minister of Finland (1991-1995)

Place and Date of Birth:

Veteli, Finland, May 20, 1954.

Professional Experience:

Aho currently serves as President of Sitra, the Finnish National Fund for Research and Development.

Political Career:

His political career started when he acted as the Chairman of the Youth Organization of the Centre Party from 1974 until 1979. A year later he became the Political Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He has been a member of the Finnish Delegation to the Nordic Council (1983-1989) as well as of the Finnish Delegation to the Council of Europe (1989-1991).

Mr Aho served as a Member of the Eduskunta (Finnish Parliament) for twenty years beginning in 1983. He was the Chairman of the Centre Party from 1990 until 2002, and was elected Prime Minister of Finland in 1991. As the youngest Prime Minister in Finland’s history, at the age of 36, Mr. Aho responded to his country’s recession by implementing strong economic reforms and bringing Finland into the European Union.

After leaving office he has been a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as Chair of the Grand Committee of the Parliament of Finland (1999-2000, 2001-2003). Esko Aho became a Fellow of the Institute of Politics (IOP), at Harvard University, from 2000 until 2001.  As an IOP Fellow, Mr. Aho led a weekly study group on the European Union and its political and economic implications for global relations.

Other:

Aho has published a number of books including The Third Round (2000), The Prime Minister (1998), and The Future Must Be Made (1997).